Singles Scorecard: Hear new tracks from Jonas Brothers, Hanson, Selena Gomez and more

The Jonas Brothers, pictured here performing at the Bradley Center in 2009, is back with a new single, "Pom Poms." Photo by MaryJo Walicki.

Look out One Direction. There's some new boy bands in town--your predecessors.

This week both Hanson ("Biggest Boy Band in America," 1996 edition) and the Jonas Brothers ("Biggest Boy Band in America," 2009 edition) are back with new tracks on sale on iTunes. We've got reviews and videos for the songs themselves below, along with the latest singles from Selena Gomez, Avril Lavigne, the National and Skillet, featuring Kenosha native Korey Cooper.

Jonas Brothers
Single: “Poms Poms”
Gut reaction: The Jo Bros are back with a marching band sound and cheerleader-inspired vocal hooks. Not sure if it’s enough to send fans back to the levels of hysteria circa 2009, but it adds some luster to the band’s faded star.Grade: B-

Avril Lavigne
Single: “Here’s to Never Growing Up”
Gut reaction: Ironically enough, Avril Lavigne shows her age with an outdated Radiohead reference. And with blockheaded references to living like rock stars, dancing on bars and a “bottle of whatever,” she also shows some influence from her fiancée, Nickelback songwriter Chad Kroeger.Grade: C-

Skillet
Single: “Sick of It”
Gut reaction: The Christian rock band, featuring Kenosha native Korey Cooper, has John Cooper repeatedly screeching “sick of it” over and over and over again, guaranteeing that the “it” you’ll be sick of is this song. Grade: D-

The National
Single: “Demons”
Gut reaction: Surprise, surprise, National frontman Matt Berninger is still sad. Cue the trombone. With previous tracks, the band was able to balance the gloom with engaging, at times pretty, arrangements, but “Demons” is mostly dull and depressing. Grade: D+

Hanson
Single: “Get the Girl Back”
Gut reaction: The Hanson brothers have proven there’s more to them than just “MMMBop” for several albums now. This latest single, featuring the same swinging MoTown horns as on 2010’s “Shout It Out,” furthers their case, although, once again, it’s no “MMMBop.” Grade: B- Hanson performs Oct. 12 at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St.

About Piet Levy

Piet Levy covers music for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and TapMilwaukee.com. For more music updates, you can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram​.